Artificial candle



Feb- 16, 1965 c. J. coRDlLLo ARTIFICIAL CANDLE Filed April l2, 1962 F I G.

"lllli Canam Cow-dino BY MTOR|\|\l United States Patent O pas 3,169,337 Ailflll. CANDLE Cosimo J. Cor-dillo, 13 W. 5th St., New Providence, NJ. Filed Apr. l2, lil-(2, Ser. No. 136,955 6 Qiairns. (El. opi- 55) The invention relates generally to artificial candles and specifically to artificial candles having both a scalable reservoir for fuel, as well as a fuel chamber.

It is an object of the invention to provide an artificial candle in which fuel is stored in a reservoir, safe from evaporation.

It is another obiect of the invention to provide an artiicial candle with a fuel chamber that may be filled and refilled from, and emptied into a fuel reservoir.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an artificial candle that is ready for almost immediate use after simple manipulation, and ready for deactivation and safe storage for a long period of time; this artificial candle uses an inexpensive volatile fuel.

These objects and advantages as well as other objects and advantages may be attained by the device, shown by way of illustration in the drawings in which:

FIGURE l is an elevational view of an artificial candle inserted in a candle holder;

FEGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof;

FlGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3 3 in FlGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the insert; and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the top of the second or lower part of the valve stern.

Artificial candles are well-known. Those using liquid fuel require frequent refueling due to the evaporation of the fuel. The present artificial candle has a sealed reservoir from which fuel does not evaporate but is always ready for delivery to a fuel chamber. After the candle has been used, any rem ining fuel may be returned to the reservoir, rather than being permitted to remain in the fuel chamber where it may evaporate. A large reserve of fuel may always be maintained on hand for delivery to the fuel chamber.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, my artificial candle has an elongated tapered shell 1l shaped generally like the conventional wax candle. At the top, there is -a threaded internal shoulder 12. A conical nozzle 13 having an axial bore 14 is provided for the top of the shell. The nozzle l has an externally threaded tubular enlargement l5. The axial bore 14 has, at its lower end 16, an internal diameter somewhat larger than a wick 17 which fits the axial bore 14. The wick-cover 18 of felt surrounds the wie.; 17 and lits into the axial bore 14. The threaded tubular enlargement 1S engages the threaded shoulder 12. The nozzle is also provided with an annular channel 19.

The top of the shell is provided with a complementaryannular rib 2i) which engages a seal-ring 21 in the channel to prevent leakage at the juncture of the nozzle 13 and shell 1l.

An internal shoulder 22 is formed in the shell, either integral therewith or as a separate insert, press fitted to engage the tapering interior wall of the shell, and to define a valve seat. The area above the shoulder is the fuel chamber 23, while the area below it is the fuel reservoir 24. The shoulder has two opposing, integral legs 25 extending downwardly and connected together by a cross-member or integral strap 25. The strap 26 has a central bore 27. Near the top of the shoulder, there is a cutout portieri or annular seat 28 on which is positioned an O-ring 29.

An inverted conical valve Sil engages the O-ring 29 and seals the upper fuel chamber 23 from lower fuel reservoir 24. A valve stern 3l extends downwardly from the valve,

3,l69,387 Patented Feb. 16, 1965 Mice through the strap 26. The lower end 32 of the valve stern has a lesser cross-sectional area than the upper end. A second part 33 of the valve stem has a central bore 34 and receives the lower end 32 of the first part of the valve stem. The top of the second part 33 of the valve stern has lateral enlargements 35. A spring 36 carried by the first part of the valve stern 31 and seated on the lateral enlargements engages the strap 26 and normally urges the valve into sealing engagement with the valve seat 2S.

The lower end of the shell 1l is internally threaded. An externally threaded end-cap 3'7 closes the end of the shell. An external flange 38 on the end-cap with a channel above the flange carries an O-ring 39 to insure against leakage of fuel from the reservoir. The end-cap 37 has a central bore of varying dimensions. The top portion lll of the central bore in the end-cap terminates in a shoulder which defines the start of a narrower second portion 41 of the central bore. A iiexible seal 42 is seated on this shoulder. VBelow the second portion is a third narrower portion i3 of the bore. A push rod 45 with a mushroomed-head 46 is seated in the second portion of the bore. In the first portion d@ of the bore, a seal retainer 47 holds the seal in place and serves to center the second part 33 of the valve stem on the seal 42.

.The operation of the artificial candle is as follows. The end cap 37 is removed and the fuelreservoir 24 is filled with fuel. The cap 37 isreplaced. When it is desired to fill the fuel chamber 23, the candle is inverted and the push-rod 45 end is pressed. This engages the seal 42 and domes it upwardly. It likewise moves the valve stem 3l, 33 to overcome the spring 36 which unseats the valve 3Q, thereby permitting fuel to leave the reservoir 24 and enter the fuel chamber 23. After the candle is used, and without again inverting it, pressure on the push-rod 45 will allow the residual fuel in the fuel chamber 23 to drain back into the reservoir 24;, where it is safe from evaporation until its use is `again called for.

The fuel for the articial candle may be any of the well-known `hydro-carbonV or mineral oils, such as the readily available cigarette lighter fuel. The shell 11 may be made of metal, such as aluminum, or of .any of the well-known plastics which in texture and color may resemble white or colored wax. The nozzle 13 is` preferably made of metal, although, ceramic orplastic materials may also be used. The insert, the valve, and theY valve stem and pusher may be made of metal orplastic, or any material relatively impervious to fuels such as might be used.

The foregoing description is nierelyiinten'ded to illustrate an embodiment of the invention. The component parts have been shown and described. They each may have substitutes which may perform a substantially similar function; such substitutes may be known as proper substitutes for the said components and may have actually been known or invented before the present invention; these substitutes are contemplated as being Within the scope ofthe appended claims, although they are not specifically catalogued herein.

What is claimed:

1. An artificial candle comprising:

(a) an elongated shell shaped in the form of a candle,

(b) a shoulder in the shell defining a valve-seat and delineating a top fuel chamber and a bottom fuel reservoir,

(c) a strap extending across the valve-seat and having a central bore to guide a valve stem,

(d) a valve-stem in the central bore of the strap,

(e) a valve on the valve stern and engageable with the valve seat,

(f) a spring engaged with the valve stem normally (c) a shoulder in the central Y (k) a push-rod in the central passage, t

push-rod seated on the shoulder in (l) a head ,onl the the central-passage, Y Y

(m) a seal in the central passage above the head of the push rod,

(n) an annular retainer for the seal engaged with thev vrefueling plug in the central passage thereof,

() the valve-stem engaged with the seal in opposition to the head of push rod.k

2. VAn articial candle comprising: Y t

(a) an elongated shelltshaped in the form of a candle,

(b) a refueling plug engageable and disengageable with the bottom of the shell shaped in 'the form of the bottom of a candle and the plug having ra central passage,

passage in the refueling plus,

(d) a push rod in the central passage,

A(e) a head on the push-rod seated on the shouldervin the central passage, Y (f) aA seal positioned in the on the push-rod,

. (g) an annular retainer for the seal engaged with the refueling plug in the central passage thereof, (h) a valve-stem engaged with the sealin opposition to the head of the push rod. 3. An artificial candle comprising: (a) anelongated shell shaped in the form of a candle, (b) a refueling plug engageable and disengageable with the bottom ofthe shell shaped in the form'of the' bottom of a candle and the plug having a central passage, (c) a shoulder in the central plug, Y p (d) a push rod in the central passage, (e) a head on the push-rod seated on the central passage,

passage in the refueling .(f) a sealV positioned in the passage above the head on the push-rod,

(g) an annular retainer for the seal engaged with theY refueling plug in the central passage thereof. 4. An artificial candle comprising:

(a) an elongated shell shaped in the form of a candle,

(b) a top fuel chamber in the shell,

(c) a bottom fuel reservoir in the shell,

(d) a removable refueling plug at the` bottom of the shell shaped in the form of the bottom of a candle and the plug having a central passage,

passage above the head the shoulder in (e) a exible seal in the central passage in the refueling plus,

(f) a valve sealing the reservoir and chamber from each other,

(g) a spring normally urging the valve to seal the chamber from the reservoir,

(h) a valve stem on the valve extending to the flexible seal.

5. An artificial candle comprising:

(a) an elongated shell shaped in the form of a candle along its entire length,

(cb) a top fuel chamber in the shell,

(c). a bottom fuel reservoir in the shell,

' (d). a deformable seal at the bottom of the fuel reservoir, the seal being deformable from without the shell, t

(e) Va spring-loaded valve in the shell normally sealing the fuel chamberrfrom the fuel reservoir;

(J)4 a valve stem extending from the valve in the shell to the deformable seal at the bottom of the fuel reservoir whereby deformation of the seal from without the shell moves the Valve stem to unseat the valve.

6.7 An artificial candle comprising:

(a) an elongatedV shell shaped in the formof a candle;

(b) a valve seat in the shell intermediate its ends delining a top fuel chamber and a bottom fuel reservoir;

(c) a valve engageable with the valve seat;

(d) a valve stem on the valve extending into the bottom fuel reservoir;

(e) resilient means engaged with the valve stem normally urging Vthe valve into sealing engagement with the valve seat;

(f) a removable refueling plug at the bottom of the shell shaped in the formtof the bottom of a candle;

(g) a exible seal positioned between the refueling plug and the bottornfuel reservoir, and

Y (h) means in the refueling plug to deform the seal in the'direction of the valve stem, the valve stem engaging the seal .upon deformation unseating the valve from the valve seat.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS EDWARD J. MICHAEL, Primary Examiner.

0 FREDERICK L. MATTEsoN, JR., Examiner. 

3. AN ARTIFICIAL CANDLE COMPRISING: (A) AN ELONGATED SHELL SHAPED IN THE FORM OF A CANDLE, (B) A REFUELING PLUG ENGAGEABLE AND DISENGAGEABLE WITH THE BOTTOM OF THE SHELL SHAPED IN THE FORM OF THE BOTTOM OF A CANDLE AND THE PLUG HAVING A CENTRAL PASSAGE, (C) A SHOULDER INT HE CENTRAL PASSAGE IN THE REFUELING PLUG, (D) A PUSH ROD IN THE CENTRAL PASSAGE, (E) A HEAD ON THE PUSH-ROD SEATED ON THE SHOULDER IN THE CENTRAL PASSAGE, (F) A SEAL POSITIONED IN THE PASSAGE ABOVE THE HEAD ON THE PUSH-ROD, 